Outstanding Service by an Institutional Representative Award

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Established in 2009, this award recognizes the work of an Outstanding Institutional Representative (IR) who has advocated effectively on behalf of the leadership development and professional advancement of women colleagues at her institution. This is the Network's highest internal honor. Institutional Representatives are nominated by the Executive Board's four Regional Coordinators on the basis of information gathered throughout the course of the prior year about IRs' activity on their campuses. Selection of the recipient is made by the Executive Board.

No application is needed for this award.

Past Recipients

Dr. Penny Poplin-Gosetti (2016), Doctoral Program Coordinator for the Higher Education Program, University of Toledo.

Penny earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA, her master’s degree in counseling from California State University, Long Beach, and her PhD in Instructional Leadership from the University of Oregon. Dr. Poplin Gosetti has recently returned to faculty, from several university administrative roles, as the Doctoral Program Coordinator for the Higher Education Program at UT as it expands its masters degree into a national online program. Penny’s personal and academic interests over the years have been the experiences and opportunities for women and girls in education, particularly higher education. In addition to serving as UT’s IR, she has served as a board member for Think College Now and an ex-officio board member of the Eberly Center for Women at UT.

Ann C. Hall (2015) Ann C. Hall is a Professor of English at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio. She serves as the Director of the Online MA in English Program, as well as the Director of the Core Curriculum. She has been an ACE WNO Institutional Rep for many years and has recently joined the Executive Board.

Dr. Robin Selzer (2014)is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Professional Practice and Experiential Learning at the University of Cincinnati. She teaches the Exploring Health Professions course and is developing a shadowing/volunteering experience in the healthcare course and program. Dr. Selzer has 16 years of experience in public, private, and distance learning universities. She began her career in Student Affairs at the University of Cincinnati Women's Center where she worked her way up from volunteer to Acting Director. She brings a multidimensional lens to her work and has experience in Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Alumni Relations, and Pre-Health Academic Advising. She is the immediate past President of the University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Academic Advising Association and still serves on the Board.

Amber Vlasnik (2013) began her current role as the Director of the Women's Center at Wright State University in 2005. In this role she provides leadership and vision to assessing the needs and status of women students, faculty and staff and to advising campus leaders on issues of women and gender. She also collaborates with other campus units on issues addressing race, ethnicity, gender, ability and sexual orientation. On top of all this, she remains actively engaged in local, regional and nations professional service. Ms. Vlasnik was appointed Institutional Representative by then Wright State University President Kim Goldenberg several years ago. Since this time, she has also served a four-year term on the Network's Executive Board as the Communications Chair.

Dr. Regina Sapona (2013) is the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services at the University of Cincinnati. As a first generation college student, who never dreamed of becoming a college administrator, she enjoys working with others to ensure that college students have strong academic and co-curricular experiences as they complete their degrees. Originally a faculty member in special education, her interest in serving in an administrative role emerged after participation in the Women in Leadership Development program offered at the University. Her colleagues' encouragement, ongoing support, and collaborative efforts have strongly influenced her continued interest in providing similar encouragement and support to students, faculty and staff members as they develop leadership skills. In her current role as an Institutional Representative, she works tirelessly to create connections between ACE/Ohio Women's Network and other representative groups such as undergraduate academic advisors, diversity councils and emerging leaders groups. Dr. Sapona earned her doctoral degree from the University of Virginia and her Master of Arts from Northwestern University.

Dr. Karla Mugler (2012) is the Associate Vice President in the Office of Academic Affairs at The University of Akron. Bringing more than twenty years of experience in teaching, research and administration in higher education, Dr. Mugler is passionate in her belief in and commitment to student success as a hallmark of higher education. Dr. Mugler has also been a champion of women on her campus and across the state. She joined the ACE Women's Network-Ohio in 1998 and served the network as an At-Large member of the Executive Board and as State Co-coordinator for five years. Dr. Mugler has provided opportunities for women at The University of Akron to pursue their professional ambitions. As both a role model and a mentor, Dr. Mugler has supported her colleagues by providing information about leadership and professional development opportunities, encouraging them in their pursuits, and offering substantive assistance by offering introductions, preparing letters of endorsement, and inviting participation in professional networks.

Carey McDougall (2010) is an Associate Professor of Art at the Kent State-Stark Campus where she teaches sculpture, drawing and performance art. She also serves as the Service-Learning Coordinator for her campus. McDougall received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Oberlin College, her Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University, and her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut. She has exhibited at various museums, galleries and universities, including the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, Sofia Press Gallery in Bulgaria, State University of New York Oneonta, Burlington County College, University of Connecticut Avery Point, and Hartford College for Women in Connecticut. She has served as an Institutional Representative for Kent State University-Stark since 2005, where her development and facilitation of the Spring 2009 Northeast Ohio workshop "Practical Skills for Upward Mobility" earned her recognition in 2010 for outstanding service. She was appointed to the ACE WNO Executive Board in 2012 and currently serves on the Conference Planning Committee.

Jacqueline H. Parrill (2009) received the inaugural Institutional Representative Outstanding Service Award in 2009. Ms. Parrill is Vice President for Institutional Planning & Human Resources Development for Central Ohio Technical College and Director of Human Resources, Campus Relations, and Planning Support at the Ohio State University at Newark. She serves as a cabinet member for both institutions as well as overseeing the offices of human resources, marketing and public relations, and institutional planning. Ms. Parrill holds an MBA and BS from Auburn University and is a graduate of the Institute of Executive Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Ms. Parrill's design of a women's leadership, and her successful efforts to form a Women's Caucus on her campus were cited activities warranting recognition by the Ohio Women's Network.